Machine for connecting electric conductors



(No Model.)

- J. SAVORY. MA GHINE FOR CONNECTING ELECTRIC GONDUUTORS. No. 554,836,

Rm 9 00 1 00 1 w P M 7 mm C a P L e E a 0 6 mi H5555:

UNITED STATES I ATENT FFICE.

HABLIE J. SAVORY, OF SOM'ERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR CONNECTING ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,836, dated February 18, 1896.

Application filed April 17, 1893. Serial No. 470,750. (No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I-IARLIE J. SAVORY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Connectin g Electric Conductors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for connecting a small electric conductor to a larger one and more especially in connecting the wires to the rails in an electrio-railway system, and. it has for its object to produce a simple, compact, and easily-operated machine, one in which the wires or other small conductors can be connected directly to the rails or other large conductors without the use of connecting-pins, rivets, or solder, and which will make a close and perfect contact between conductors connected thereby, thus excluding moisture from between the conductors at their abutting-surfaces.

The invention is carried out as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved machine placed upon the rail of a railway-track in position to connect an electric wire to the rail, the rail being shown in cross-section. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section of the machine and across-section of the rail, showing the wire connected to the rail. Fig. 3 represents an end view of the machine, showing the same placed upon a portion of the rail. Fig. 4 represents a detail cross-section of a portion of a rail, showing a wire after it has been connected to a rail by my improved machine.

Similar letters refer to similar parts on the different parts of the drawings.

Heretofore the electrical connection of a wire to the rail of a railway-track has been accomplished by the use of a connecting-pin driven into a perforation in the rail with the wire or by having the wire soldered to a rivet which is then riveted to the rail, but both of these are expensive and not in all cases satisfactory.

My present invention is to construct a machine which will dispense with the use of the pins or rivets and will connect the wire directly with the rail.

On the drawings, a represents a large elec tric conductor, and in this instance it is shown as a railway-rail.

19 represents a small electric conductor to be connected with the conductor a, and in this instance it is shown as a wire, but the exact form of the two conductors used is not essential to the object of my invention.

0 represents a frame of suitable size and form to embrace the rail or larger conductor, and it is provided at one end preferably with the fixed clamping-jaw c, which in connection with the movable clamping-j aw 0 forms a clamping device for holding the wire or other small conductor in its proper position while it is being connected to the rail. The jaw c is moved to and from the jaw c by means of the screw and hand wheel 0 The opposite end of the frame 0 is provided with a suitable header or upsetting device, preferably in the form of the screw 0 as shown, operated by means of a suitable hand wheel or bar 0 The screw 0 is provided on its inner end with a block 0 swiveled to it which prevents any liability of twisting the end of the wire when the screw is turned.

The operation of my improved machine is as follows: After perforating the rail and inserting the wire I) therein the machine is placed in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and the wire clamped between the clamping-jaws c and 0 so as to allow the end of the wire to project slightly through wire and the block withdrawn by the screw a sufficiently to allow the machine to be removed from the rail.

It will be obvious to any mechanic that the face of the c1amping-jaws and the block a may be made countersunk so as to head the wire in any desired shape; also that the wire may be headed on the extreme end only by holding the face of the clamping'jaws firmly against the rail while the wire is being compressed and its end headed.

I do not Wish to confine myself to the form of clamping device or heading device shown in the drawings, as they may be varied within the scope of mechanical skill without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and operation of my invention, I wish to secure by Letters Patent and claim- In a machine for connecting a small electric conductor to a larger one by upsetting the former within a perforation in the latter, a frame to embrace the larger conductor, an upsetting-screw screwed through a screw threaded perforation in said frame, a stationary clamping-jaw made integral with said frame, a second clamping-jaw movable upon said frame toward and from the stationary jaw, a clamping-screw screwed through a screw-threaded perforation in the frame to move said movable jaw in order to clamp the smaller conductor between the clampingjaws, all combined and operated substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 18th day of November, A. D. 189].

IIARLIE T. SAVORY. In presence of IIENRY CHADBOURN, FRANK E. GREEN\VOOD. 

